Over the past few years, bags, especially the small sling-type bags, have become an essential part of my everyday use. Is it the same for you?
Pockets in trousers / pants / jeans pockets, never seem to have enough space to put all our “carry with us” everywhere we go things like, wallets, keys, smartphones, coins, tissue, snacks… and the list goes on. The pockets seem to be made smaller and smaller. Or are we carrying more things?
Wait a minute. Isn’t our lives supposed to be easier with the most modern of technology? Aren’t we supposed to be less complicated?
Or is it just an illusion?
I think we may have forgotten how to travel light whenever we leave our house each day. The smartphones have gotten bigger…I mean they are a help. We don’t have to carry an SLR camera for good shots. From a multitude of keys just to operate our travel vehicles, now its reduced to one…basically. And the list goes on.
My daily carry on / go-with-me items include my Samsung Fold to get my writing done when I am away from my workstation. Then, I have the my Samsung S23 Ultra for fast taking pictures and voice notes. The Fold can be cumbersome in one-hand operations. I also carry a small leather portfolio notebook, for some just-in-case notes. Somewhere in there, my Bose Quietbuds are a must carry-with-me-wherever-I-go item for its great noise cancellation feature. This is so important to me as my concentration while piping in or typing an article can be crucial.
I have acquired several bags, especially the small-to-medium sling-type bags. One of the features that I look for in an item is that I want it to last forever and ever. The Venture Sling from Bellroy looked the perfect fit. The most attractive thing about this bag was the colour. I was definitely into bronze. I tried it out, stuffed all my things into it, and it did not look bulky. In fact it maintained the overall shape of the bag.
The other point of importance for me was the zipper. It had to work all the time for me, not some of the time, not jam once in a while, not having to fiddle with the whole bag just to get the zipper working. To this, Bellroy tuned it well enough for one-hand operation of the bag.
Long story short, I have been using the Venture Sling as my daily carrier through all the general Malaysian weather. I am an urban user, no longer on dirt tracks and mountain trekking. This has been going on for close to 3 years. I have “collected a tan” from my daily 10 kilometer walks, many a times in the sunny side of the sun.
Funny thing – I don’t sling my main work bag when I go for my walks. However, the Venture Sling seems to have picked up a tan, too.😉
One day, I noticed that the “Bellroy” logo was starting to peel off. I was not too sure if this was natural. I wrote to Bellroy’s Customer Service.
This I can say. Their Customer Service is on par in excellence with their products. I took pictures of the issue. They responded quickly and handled the matter with professionalism, friendliness and customer satisfaction as their priority. A shout out to Moises.
On a cold but not so cold July 10th morning, waking up at a luxurious time of 8.16am; to the sounds of the heavens pouring squeezing the rain clouds below it and above us, all the water that it had been absorbing for some time. This water is what we know as rain. – The sponge-like clouds must be drying up as the rain seemed to be slowing down.
The ladies of the family had taken a day off from work to spend quality time as a family on this day, July 10th.
The first order of the day was to get some errands done. After all, it is a normal working day for everyone else. Came home and picked up the younger lady of the house to go grab some breakfast.
As we had a couple more errands in the “SS” area of Subang Jaya (1), I suggested a quick brekkie – a coffee and pastry at Good Ground Bakery (GGB).
Today was a first try for their plain croissants. As my wife Jeannie and I were browsing to see what we should eat, Monique, GGB’s bright and chirpy Public Relations person; suggested to try their plain croissants, just baked and out of the oven. Jeannie ordered it, with butter and strawberry jam to go with it. Jeannie, who is in the food business, said it isn’t easy to make good croissants. It needs to be gotten just right.
The plain croissant can be eaten with almost anything. Here, we asked for butter and strawberry jam to go with it.
The plain croissant can be eaten with almost anything. Here, we asked for butter and strawberry jam to go with it. We tried it on its own. Perfect! Jeannie and I loved it. Then, we ate it with the strawberry jam and butter. It was lovely.
The croissant, with part of it already cut and eaten. It couldn’t wait for its picture to be taken. 😂
The big, spicy chicken curry puff, was great, too. GGB is the bakery that you come, expecting delicious pastries with good beverages, hot or cold, always; spending time with family or friends, do some personal work or catch up on some reading. It offers you an experience wanting to come back again for more.
I just love colours. The colours of yellow, gold and brown makes this chicken curry puff, a work of art.
The big chicken curry puff on the left with its light brown, golden accent crust. The croissant perfect, on the right.
Two hot blacks.
The blacks look great from an angle. This comes with satsifaction.
One for the family album…
And another…With our daughter, Laura; Jeannie and I.
I had planned a couple of weeks earlier, to spend a bit of time at Mid-Valley Shopping Centre on this day, my birthday. I thought that there might be some birthday offers if I decided to buy anything. I had in mind to buy a pair of Teva sandals, the model with padded straps and more comfortable to use. I loved the pair that I already had, but since I do a lot of walking, it would be nice to have a more comfortable pair. My good friend, Keith Ganesan once told me that we have to treat our feet royally as they carry our body everywhere. Wise statement.
“They” tempted me to get this. Looks good. However, it does not appeal to me.
The drive to Mid Valley met with the usual heavy traffic on the Federal Highway. It was not chockablock. We got there in fairly decent time.
First thing on the agenda a quick kopi-O ais (Malaysian for iced coffee, black) and a currypuff. Jeannie tempted me with the idea of having chicken rendang (2) currypuff, sold at the food court in Aeon departmental store.
We got there in the nick-of-time. There were only three of these currypuffs left. With kopi- o ais, it was a good afternoon snack.
I soon made my way to the Teva store. There was a RM50 (US$10.70) discount on this price range of sandals. I tried them on for size and found it comfortable – ideal for long wear. I got it.
Trying on the Teva M Terra F1 5 Universal for size. Got it. What do you think? In the foreground, is my current Teva XL@ Hurricane.
Looking at the Bellroy Tote bags for Jeannie and Laura, a birthday gift on my birthday, to them.
I then walked across to The Gardens to get a birthday gift each from me to Jeannie and Laura. The Planet Traveller store has some pretty cool things that the both of them would like. The Bellroy Tote bag is a nice everyday use item that both of them would like . No prizes for guessing what colour Laura chose.
No prizes for guessing what colour Laura chose.
We headed home at about 5.00pm, hoping to meet the after work traffic jams. We somehow managed to do that.
We had a fairly late dinner (at least to us, it was; as we usually have dinner around 6.00pm to 7.00pm). I decided on something simple yet fit for a “king”. We ate at Burger King.
Laura was feeling a bit under the weather – she went for fries only. Jeannie went for the Whooper (no not swan. It is the way she pronounces it) set. Mine was like an oblong burger.
My burger reminded me of McD’s prosperity burger, at least the shape of it. Instead of an oblong beef patty like that of McD’s, this came with two small round patties. It tasted nice. The sauces in it, made it all the more nicer. I think this is a new variant. You should try it. They have a choice of either beef or chicken.
Family bonding at the King.I wanted something simple for dinner. And quick, too. I chose Burger King.
Laura was feeling a bit under the weather – she went for fries only. Jeannie went for the Whooper (no not swan. It is the way she pronounces it) set. Mine was like a oblong burger.
Since today only comes once a year (just like every other day. haha), Jeannie bought these packets of chocolate for me. I love chocolate. Perhaps I should write about chocolate. Maybe….will see.
Birthday spoils – chocolate. Yum!
We ended the day by having some birthday cake – buttercake made by the famous buttercake baker, my mum. It was delicious. The cake was soon gone as we started cutting the cake to give to friends and family.
Buttercake birthday cake made by mum. Awesome! Delicious and even more than before.
An inside look of the beautiful and yummy buttercake.
The side of the cake. This is absolutely a work of art.
I met with Su Yin, Jeannie’s colleague and a birthday celebrant, too. Her birthday was July 9th. I see her quite often when I drop Jeannie off at work and pick her up. This was the first time I met her in person. Jeannie says she is a super, super, super wonderful person. From our brief meeting; I totally agree with Jeannie – Su Yin is a super, super, super wonderful person.
Here I am with Su Yin, a birthday celebrant, too. Her birthday was July 9th.
I dropped by at St. Thomas More Church to give parish priest, Monsignor Patrick Boudeville some birthday cake. He invited me to join him for lunch with his staff in the dining room. I thanked him but said I was in a rush to several other cake delivery stops. “You are always in a rush. At least have a coffee”, he said. So, I did.
Having coffee with Monsignor Patrick Boudeville at St Thomas More Church in Subang Jaya. He is very witty.
He is very witty and kept me laughing most of the time. It was a really nice coffee break for me. I was off to make my birthday cake delivery rounds. It has been a great start into my 67th year.
My mother-in-law made this cute little knitted apple in a keychain for me.
I received hundreds and hundreds of birthday wishes and they are still coming in as I put this essay together.
Starting from one the earliest messages from my La Salle School classmate, Mohan Singh, followed by a telephone call from him a bit later, to the phone calls from my mum & dad, to all the messages from the various social media platforms, family members staying near & far, my La Salle School alumni year, St. Jude BEC…, on Facebook, Instagram, X, Tik Tok, emails…Whatsapp, Messenger… WOW!
Thank you everyone for a great start into my 67th year.
NOTES: 1. Subang Jaya is a bustling and exciting city in the central peninsula state of Selangor, Malaysia. 2. Rendang is a dry style of curry that is simmered until the gravy thickens. Classic rendang is usually made with beef, but chicken is also popular. Beef Rendang takes twice as long to cook and so Chicken Rendang is a delicious alternative. It is somewhat lighter and “brighter” in taste and appearance. http://www.rotirice.com
